Kenya's water minister questioned over corruption

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's minister for water was questioned by investigators on Friday over suspicious government tenders and contracts awarded to firms linked with her, the country's anti-graft commission said.

Charity Ngilu recorded a statement with the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), the latest minister to be questioned in the country's revitalised fight against graft, after weeks of accusations in the local media and parliament.

The allegations were sparked by Ngilu's former deputy, who claimed he was moved to another ministry to cover up rampant corruption in the water ministry.

"Ngilu appeared before KACC to shed light on issues touching on conflict of interest in award of tenders and contracts to companies associated with her, and irregular procurement and tendering procedures in the construction of dams and sinking boreholes," KACC said in a statement.

Ngilu, who is aligned to Prime Minister Raila Odinga's side of the grand coalition government, was not immediately available for comment.

KACC director Patrick Lumumba told reporters the agency had spoken to several water officials and would examine their statements to see if Ngilu and some of her staff were involved in criminal activities under the anti-economic crimes law.

Other high-profile officials have been interviewed over corruption accusations in recent weeks, a sign that President Mwai Kibaki's government is stepping up its long-promised war against the vice.

Kenya's industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey has also been questioned over illegal car imports. He was was named by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as one of the suspects involved in the violence that followed Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential elections.
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